Female Molly And Male Guppies

[fmervin]

Hello all,

My 65 ltr (approx 17gal) tank was stocked with 2 mollies and one betta. However since the betta started bullying the crap of the male molly I decided to return it to the lfs ([topic="200478"]see this[/topic]). However, before I could return the betta it took the life out of my male molly. When I inspected the molly, it had its tail fin partly bitten. Anyway, after returning the betta and burying the dead molly, I had a single female molly. I tested my water parameters and they were:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0 and
Nitrate - 10 - 15ppm

So I stocked my tank with 3 male guppies, 2 ottos and 7 amano shrimps. Now when the guppies got into the tank they started getting frisky with the female molly. Can the male guppies and female molly mate? If so, I think the female molly would be seriously stressed again (she just got a break from the betta)

What do I do? If I introduce female guppies into my tank it throws off my stocking lists out of the window since I believe you need to have 2 females to a male. On the other hand the females don't have the bright colours of the male Someone please advise, I'm going crazy trying to get my molly a peaceful tank atmosphere. Pood dear had to put up with the betta for almost a month and must be really stressed.

 

[01edmn]

yes they can mate i think anyway it can be done with female gupps and male mollies but the fry can week and prone to disease anyway i would return 2 of the gupps and get 2 females the they should leave the molly allone

 

[dthoffsett]

I'd return the female molly and stick with just male guppies. Guppys (and mollies) breed like crazy, and females can hold sperm for up to six months and continue having fry without a male present. Unless you are prepared for hundreds of fry, stick with all males.

 

[fmervin]

Thanks all,

My daughter is kind of attached to the female molly, so can't get return her. However, I did return 2 male guppies and got 2 females instead. Strangely, the male guppy is not interested in the female guppies and is still chasing the female molly. I'm at my wits end. I can't keep taking fish back to the lfs, I'm sure they won't like it. How can I make this molly-molesting guppy take interest in the female guppies and leave the molly alone?

I'd return the female molly and stick with just male guppies. Guppys (and mollies) breed like crazy, and females can hold sperm for up to six months and continue having fry without a male present. Unless you are prepared for hundreds of fry, stick with all males.

I don't think I'm going to do anything special to make sure the fry survive really, I'm planning to have a gourami or a blue ram and I suspect they should feast on the guppy fry. Do let me know if you think this is not a good idea

 

[fmervin]

Anyone? Some suggestions please. I'm afraid this guppy will stress her out and eventually kill her. It's kind of funny though with the make guppy chasing the female molly and the female guppies following the male guppy lol

Crazy, but I'm just worried for the molly

 

[Lynda B]

You probably should've returned all the guppies and gotten another female molly and a male molly. Keeping a fish that's being harassed because your daughter likes it isn't really fair to the fish.

 

[lilfishie]

return the guppies and get another female molly, i have found females to be social and prefer being kept with other mollies

 

[fmervin]

Thanks Lynda
B)-->QUOTE(Lynda B @ Jun 22 2007, 03:07 PM) [snapback]1662892[/snapback]
You probably should've returned all the guppies and gotten another female molly and a male molly.[/quote]
I probably should have returned the 3 guppies and got 1 male and 2 female guppies. However, I never imagined that the male guppy would prefer a female molly over female guppies. Guppies and mollies are supposed to live together in harmony.

B)-->QUOTE(Lynda B @ Jun 22 2007, 03:07 PM) [snapback]1662892[/snapback]
Keeping a fish that's being harassed because your daughter likes it isn't really fair to the fish.[/quote]
Never said it was fair to the fish , hence I've come to the forum to know if the guppy will leave the molly alone after a while or will he continue pestering her. After all there are female guppies he should be chasing. I'm not an experienced fishkeeper and experts said that a single female molly would be fine on her own. Never thought in my wildest dreams that a guppy would chase her like crazy.

 

[Lynda B]

Maybe he's chasing her because she's the only molly? Not sure how that works with these guys..... I don't have guppies, although I love them. I do have 3 black mollies in my tank with my tetras and the mollies really ignore every other fish in the tank.

 

[01edmn]

take molly out and put in bowl of old tank water rap round a towel leave for about an hour and then the male guppy may go after the females gupps and leave molly alone when reintroduced